Alex Crawford is an 18 year old senior in high school, she's intersex and struggles with her mental health. She was held back a year in 10th grade due to her inability to attend classes and do work. Despite her distaste for others and her own strugg...
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Fit^
_______________________________ As I walked with Riley down the stairs and through the hallways, I couldn't help but wonder who in the world just lets their young child loose in the middle of a high school. The halls were quite empty due to it still being lunch, so as we rounded the corner towards the office neither of us expected to come face to face with anyone, especially the Principal herself.
What surprised me the most was the look of recognition, and the slight nervous smile that passed over Riley's features. Just as I was about to speak, Principal Perez beat me to it. "Riley! What were you thinking? I was so worried about you, I walk away for two minutes and you run off. Gosh." She gives a loud sigh, shaking her head. Riley spoke. "Don't worry mommy, I made a new friend. You're gonna love her, she's right here." She grabbed my hand. " Her name's Alex, she said she'd bring me back here since she "unfortunately" couldn't leave me on the roof!" Ms. Perez looks at me with a raised eyebrow, I just shrugged. "Well thank you Alex, for making sure she was safe. I can't say thank you enough." She said, with her hand on her forehead. I spoke. "It's all good, I'm glad I could help. She's not too bad." I gave Ms. Perez a smile. Riley pouted, "What do you mean not too bad, I'm awesome!" We all laugh, "Yeah, yeah" Ms. Perez said with a teasing smile.
"Can she have dinner with us later mommy?" Riley asked excitedly. "Oh, I don't think that's a good idea bug, she's probably busy and has other things to do." Riley looked at me expectantly, "I'm sorry, I have a lot of classes until then and then I have to go to work. Maybe next time." I said with a gentle smile trying not to hurt her feelings. She gave a disappointed sigh, "Okay". Ms. Perez looked at me apologetically, I shook my head with a smile showing that it was fine. "Don't worry I'm sure you'll see her again, you're here almost everyday for lunch remember." She said to her daughter, who looked up excitedly while fist pumping the air, giggling happily. "Okay, we gotta get you back to your school before lunch is over. Say goodbye." Ms. Perez said. Riley bolted towards me crashing into my legs, hugging me. I patted her back slightly, as she said "Bye-bye, I'll see you on Monday." Before I could say anything back she ran back to her mom, pulling her away.
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I had just started my shift at work, it's a coffee shop and bakery. It's not usually very busy on a Friday night, although I was mentally preparing for the chaos that might ensue the following morning, in which I had that shift as well. It was around 6pm when I decided to start preparing to close, just as I was about to throw the old pastries away the bell on the door dinged.
I looked up just in time to see Ms. Perez walk in with Riley by her side, they didn't notice me until they got to the counter. "Oh, Alex, I didn't know you worked here." "Alex!" They both said at the same time. I smiled, "Yeah, I'm here most Fridays, I'll even be here tomorrow. How's it going Riley?" I said, looking at them both, I couldn't help but notice the slight smirk on Ms. Perez' face. Confused, I looked back at Riley. "It's going great Alex! We came here to get dessert, you should have some with us!" Riley said, smiling brightly. I look to Ms. Perez questioningly, she nods. "I'd love to." I said. "What would you guys like?" I asked.
They gave me their order, and I handed them their food, saying it was on me. Of course she protested but I insisted. We all went to sit and eat, me just having water since I had yet to eat dinner. "So, how has the rest of your guy's day been?" I asked, Riley responded "Good, but mommy also said she wished you could've come to dinner with us." At this Ms. Perez blushed deeply, once again leaving me confused. I mean she's a very attractive woman and I've always had a slight crush on her, but that's unrealistic she'd never like someone like me. Why would she blush at that though? "I wish I could've too." I replied. As time passed we continued to talk, I eventually looked at the time to notice it's 7pm. "I'm sorry guys, I gotta start closing, I'm gonna have an early morning tomorrow." I said.
"Oh, no you're okay. Little miss here should probably start getting ready for bed anyway." Ms. Perez said, as Riley pouts "But bedtime isn't until 9." "You're right but didn't you want to watch 'The little mermaid' before bed? You don't want to miss that, do you?" She said, as Riley shot up from her seat. "Yes! Let's go!" Riley said while trying to pull her mother from her seat and out the door. "Hold your horses!" Ms. Perez said while laughing, "You have to say bye to Alex remember." She said, In a repeat of earlier Riley crushed me in a hug. While saying goodbye to Riley, I looked to Ms. Perez, and saw a joyful content look on her face, before Riley broke the hug and ran off taking her lovely mother with her. I smiled as I let out a long content sigh. I finished closing and went home for the night, dreading the morning to come.
